Trailer coupling



y 1940- I K. A. HARVEY 2,207,006

TRAILER COUPLING Filed March 21, 1939 Z 48 -|i I" IVENTOR. K917176297 H-f/arvey ATTORNE Patented July 9, 1940 PATENT OFFICE TRAILER COUPLING Kenneth A. Harvey, Los Angeles, Calif. Application March 21, 1939, Serial No. 203,150

4 Claims.

The device of the present invention relates to mechanical means to releasably attach a drawn to a driven vehicle, and the objects of the invention are to provide a simple, sturdy, easily oper- 5 ated, and low cost coupling for the above stated purpose;

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention mayappear from the accompanying drawing, the specification, and the appended 10 claims.

- In the'drawing of which there is one sheet:

, Figure l is a side elevation showing the coupling of this invention. p

Figure 2 is a mid-vertical sectional elevation 16 showing the operative relation between the several elements of the invention.

Figure 3 is a plan view in section, the View being taken approximately on line 33, in Figure 1.

20 Figure 4 is a further sectional view in plan,

the view being that taken on line 44, in Figure 2.

Thecoupling of this invention is quite simple, being formed of three cast-metal parts, i. e., a

25 base In, a latch I2, and a keeper l4 as shown in the several figures of the drawing.

The base -I is formed'as a monolithic structure,

of which it is a body portion having outwardly projecting flanges l8 through which holes may be 80 drilled for bolting the coupling to suitable structure upon the driven vehicle.

An upturned hook 20 formed integral with the body portion I6 is adapted to receive the eyelet of the draw-bar of the drawn vehicle, while ad- 88 jacent the upper end of the hook 213 a step or recess 22 is formed to create a rest for one end of the latch l2. The hook 20 is also provided with an annular recess or cavity 24 adjacent the step 22 to receive an annular boss 26 formed upon the 40' free end of the latch whereby the same may be securely held in position.

The latch i2 is provided with an upwardly extending portion 28 having a hook 30 formed thereon for periodic engagement with a lug 32 45 formed as a part of the keeper M. The inner end of the latch is formed with outwardly extending bosses 34 and 36 which move through elongated recesses 38 and 40 in the side-walls of the body portion I6. The bosses 34 and 36 also form 50 turning points for partial rotation of the latch when moved from normal horizontal position as shown in the several figures to lifted position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2.

The upper-halves 4| and 42 of the body portion from the body of the device.

placement and removal of the keeper l4 which is adapted to normally be positioned within said body portion in such manner as to form a wedge between the inner wall 44 of the back 46 of'the coupler body and the inner end of the latch l2 as shown particularly in Figures 2 and 4.

The keeper is provided with a, convenient finger grip 48 while its lower front portion is curved at 45 in the manner of a cam as shown in Figure 2, the line of curvature continuing to bend upon itself until itintersects the rear face thereof to form a tongue 50 thelower end of which is normally positioned within an opening 52 formed in the bottomwall 54 of the body portion l6.

The front surface of the keeper is partially cutaway at 5| to receive the portion 28 when swung upwardly to dotted-line position to effect union of the hook-30 with the lug 32.

The side 4| is formed with a vertical groove 54 through which a lug 56 formed upon the keeper I0 is adapted to move to prevent any possible forward tilting or other disarrangement of the keeper. v

The back 46 is formed with openings 58 and 60,0f which o-pening58 is adapted to permit insertion of the latch l2, while opening 60 provides a slot waytol limit'movement of the keeper inan upward direction by reason of the set-screw 62. Dotted lines 63 show the uppermost position needed to permit operation of the coupler without enabling the keeper to be completely withdrawn It is believed that application and use of the coupler of this invention will be readily understood byreference 'to the preceding descriptive matter and to the drawing, however there are certain salient features operative in the coupler of this inventionwhich may best be drawn out by specific reference thereto.

Due to the fact that the coupler may be used upon variously shaped structural parts of vehicles and also due to the fact that very few commercial vehicles of different make have the same structural arrangement it has not been deemed necessary to show opening for placement of bolts or rivets for securing the coupler in place, sufiice to state that after determining the points at which drilled openings are to occur, the latch I2 is inserted through the opening. 58

v to occupy the position shown in the several fig- V ures of the drawing, The keeper I4 is then dropped into position, progressively moving downward from the dotted line position to full line position shown in Figure 2. The set-screw 62 is then threaded into the tongue50 to lock the keeper in place. The coupler may then be bolted or otherwise secured upon the vehicle upon which it is to be carried.

After having been secured in position for use, it is only necessary to lift upwardly upon the keeper M and then to lift the latch l2 to an approximate position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, the keeper is then slightly lowered until the lug 32 engages the hook 30, such union will hold the latchin elevatedposition. The vehicles toibe united maythen beimaneuvered into such position that the eyelet of the draw-bar of the drawn vehicle may be placed upon the hook 20 after which it is only necessary to again slightly lift the keeper to release the latch which" falls into place bridging the space. above the eyelet of the draw-bar. The keeper'is then" released, its weight being sufiicient tofkeeptthe boss"26 securely within the recess or cavity 24.

Attention is directed again to thedrawing wherein it will be-observed. that'ample clearance-has been provided. for-each'of themovable elements of thecoupler, therebyensuring that .none of thepartswill-stick or otherwisebecome the front surface ofthe keeper is well adapted to constantly. press the latchinto' forward position without ever becomingtightly wedged into such position as. toneed to behammered before releasing the latch.

From the preceding description it is believed that it will be readily apparent that the coupler of this invention is without a peer, being strong, simple and reliable in operation, and of extremelylow cost for the reasonthat there are but three elements present in. theassembly, each of which is cast, and each of which may be directly assembled Without further Work being done upon them, except for .drilling and tapping threads for the set-screw 62. .It is obvious that various changes and modification and variations may be made in practicing. the invention in departure from the particular showing of the drawing and "description as given,'rwithout however, departing from the true spirit or. the invention as defined by thescope'of' the appended claims.

.the mouth of said hook and being adapted to at least partially enter said cavity, and gravitationally -..actuated keeper having an inclined face adapted to be in pressure contact with the in- "ner' end or said latch whereby the free end of the latclr'will be'forced into said cavity.

3. A coupler to join vehicles, in combination, a body portion having an upturned hook formed with a transversely;positioned. recess therein, a

latch slidableacross the mouth of said hook and adapted tohavea free end thereon enter said recess, a gravitationally actuated keeper, to constantly urge said latch into said recess and being formed with a lug thereon, and a hook on said latch to engage said lug tohold the .latchinnonfunctionalposition whena draw-bar isbeing joined to said coupler.

4. The combination in a coupler for vehicles, of a .body portion having an upturned hook formed with a transversely positioned recess therein, said body portion being formed with horizontally positioned slot-ways .in. thesides thereof, a latch having bosses fulcrumedin said slot-ways and being-adapted to slidably move .across the mouth of said hook to nest within said recess, a keeper positionedin said body portion and being gravitationally actuated to bring an. inclined pressure surface. thereon. into pressure contact with one. end of said latch .to' force the opposite end thereof into said recess, and cooperative means on saidlatch and said keeper whereby said latch may be predeterminedly held in inclined position in clearance of the mouth of said hook by said keeper.

.KENNETH A. HARVEY. 

